First-Time Parent

Forget unrealistic childcare manuals – this is the book you really need to help you cope brilliantly with those first chaotic days and months ahead.

As a health journalist and mother-of-three, Lucy Atkins is familiar with both the medical aspects of childbirth and baby development, and the reality of day-to-day life as an exhausted first-time mum or dad. In her feisty, humorous style, she begins with that first mind-blowing day and addresses the issues unique to the first-time parent who stares at their newborn and thinks “Where are the instructions?”

Anticipating the questions and concerns of all new mothers–Why does my baby cry so much? Will I ever lose all this weight? Am I a bad parent because…?–the book provides practical advice and level-headed reassurance. It addresses the needs of the baby and, very importantly, those of the parent during the first year of their baby’s life.

Contents include:
Starter’s orders – the equipment and kit you really need, as opposed to what the department store tells youHello – how to cope with the first few hoursStart – coming home, bonding, how to survive the first few daysSleep – for everyone!Cry – why your baby cries, what to do, why you'll want to cry, tooEat –breastfeeding, supplemental feeding, moving to solids, nutritionGrow – baby's physical and mental developmentPlay – yes, you two actually can have funThrive – health considerations for baby and parentLive – adapting to your new life, the changing mother-father relationshipWork – coping with being at home and with going back to workAlso includes information on single parenting, and on adopted, multiple and special needs babies.
The First-Time Parent is on your side, and reassures that you can cope brilliantly with your new baby and your new life.

Reviews

‘A great book for any first-time mother.’ Sarah Beeny, TV property expert and mother of four.

‘An honest, down-to-earth guide.’ Mother and Baby

‘You can't go wrong with a book as comprehensive as First-Time Parent.’ Tidewater Parent

‘Eminently more friendly than most baby manuals.’ Sunday Express

About the author

Lucy Atkins is an award-winning British journalist and author. She writes for newspapers such as The Guardian, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph and a range of women’s magazines. Lucy has been a first-time parent – as well as a second- and third-time one – and currently lives with her family in Boston, USA.